News & market updates

Sri Lanka's manufacturing PMI fell to 55.5 in November from 61.0 in October, indicating slower expansion. New orders rose led by food & beverages and textiles/apparel; production was neutral, stocks and employment rose more slowly and supplier delivery times lengthened.

Sri Lanka's Manufacturing PMI was 55.5 in November 2025, indicating expansion; Services PMI was 50.5, indicating a slower expansion. Manufacturing gains were driven by food & beverages and textiles/apparel, while accommodation, food & beverage and financial services supported services activity.

The Central Bank reported the Manufacturing PMI eased to 55.5 in November from 61 in October, while the Services PMI slowed to 50.5, indicating continued but moderating expansion. Manufacturing was broad-based (food & beverages, textiles); services growth was led by accommodation, F&B and financial services, with rising employment and new orders.

ASPI fell 0.95% (213.49 pts) to 22,294.77, erasing Rs. 52.9bn of market value; top negative contributors were DOCK, CINS, COMB, CFIN and DFCC.

ADB upgraded Sri Lanka’s GDP growth forecasts for 2025–26, citing robust private-sector credit growth, stronger industry and services performance, and planned infrastructure investment. The report flagged Cyclone Ditwah risks and revised inflation forecasts downward.

Emirates and Dubai Humanitarian have launched an airbridge to Sri Lanka, offering over 100 tonnes of free cargo space on daily flights for two weeks to transport emergency relief after Cyclone Ditwah. The first flights carried WFP fortified biscuits and other food and shelter supplies via Colombo for government distribution.

Lion Brewery (Ceylon) PLC mobilised A‑Pad rescue and volunteer teams during Kelani River floods in Biyagama—assisting evacuations, delivering food and clean water, clearing debris after water rose nearly 10 ft (~3 m)—and is planning a community stronghold to boost future flood resilience.

Aitken Spence PLC's Conventions & Exhibitions unit inaugurated the 40th Colombo Shopping Festival at BMICH, running 12–21 Dec 2025. Commercial Bank is the official banking partner while Browns EV and Nestlé are among other partners; over 250 local entrepreneurs are participating and ticket sales will aid disaster-affected families.

The Ministry launched the Industry Recovery Foster Program (IRFP) and Industry Development Foster Program (IDFP) to revive large-scale manufacturing hit by Cyclone Ditwah, with corporates including John Keells (JKH.N0000), Hemas (HHL.N0000), Brown & Company (BRWN.N0000) and Cargills (CARG.N0000) joining a PPP. The recovery framework will be operational within 30 days and 16,476 inquiries have been recorded to date.

Sri Lanka's average coconut price at the weekly auction fell 1.5% to 112,740.72 rupees per 1,000 nuts as nuts offered rose to 409,302 and nuts sold rose to 278,343. Local wholesale and retail price ranges and copra/coconut oil prices were also reported.

Government's Excise Notification No.03/2025 raises one‑time Industry Entry Fees up to Rs.25m for distilleries (Rs.5m for palmrah arrack), Rs.5m for bottling plus higher annual fees and security deposits, and Rs.10–15m for certain retail licences; existing licensees must top up deposits within 30 days.

Vegolicious (Misa Foods and Beverages Pvt. Ltd.) launched High Protein Multi Grain Noodles, Pappadam, Pasta and Cookies, with the noodles providing 17.8g protein and 5g fibre per 100g. The products use pulse flours (mung bean, chickpea, red kidney bean, yellow split pea, red lentil) aimed at higher-protein, plant-based options.

Colombo market rose for a fourth straight session: ASPI +0.16% (36.85 pts) to 22,459.28 and S&P SL20 +0.18% (11.09 pts) to 6,095.15. Turnover was Rs.5.55bn, foreigners were net sellers of Rs.150.5m, and top ASPI contributors were DOCK, CINS, CFIN, HHL and SUN.

A. Baur & Co (Baurs) has been named Patron of the Business & Human Rights Working Group of the UN Global Compact Network Sri Lanka and is strengthening its human rights, anti-corruption, and sustainability practices across agriculture, healthcare and digital operations as it marks its 125th year.

AIESEC at the University of Sri Jayewardenepura held Launchpad 3.0, a career fair and professional development forum led by title partner Ceylinco Life Insurance that connected students with panels, workshops and local/international internship and job opportunities.

Sri Lanka Thriposha Limited handed over Rs. 100 million in dividends to the General Treasury. Deputy Finance Minister Dr. Anil Jayantha Fernando said claims the company would close are false and praised its management and employees for providing a secure service.

Vegetable demand in Sri Lanka's Nuwara Eliya district slumped after Cyclone Ditwah, with 1,421 hectares damaged and daily shipments falling to 72,000 kg from a normal 150,000 kg, causing initial price spikes then a collapse. Retail pola remained partly closed and tourism was down about 20%, reducing sales.

Cyclone Ditwah killed about 500,000 layer chickens, cutting Sri Lanka's daily egg output by around 30% to about 60,000. Retail egg prices rose to Rs 43–45, day‑old chick prices recovered, maize feed rose to Rs 200/kg and the government announced Rs 200,000 per farm compensation.

Cyclone Ditwah killed 35,000 cattle and 2,000 pigs in Sri Lanka and wiped out about 500,000 layer chicks and 1.4–1.5 million broiler chicks, the Department of Animal Husbandry and Health said. Officials added pig farms were only just recovering from African swine fever and many poultry losses were at larger farms, with unknown cottage-industry losses.

ChildFund Sri Lanka mobilized LKR 15 million in Phase 1 emergency aid after catastrophic floods displaced over 1.1 million people and killed 355. The response focuses on child protection, psychosocial support, education continuity, food security and WASH, with thousands of children impacted or unreachable.

Cyclone Ditwah destroyed early-stage Maha-season crops, leaving paddy sown on 563,950 ha (vs ~800,000 ha typical) and damaging about 95,799 ha of field crops and 13,463 ha of vegetables. The losses have driven vegetable price spikes (100–350% in some markets) and threaten food security, farmer incomes, and higher import needs into 2026.

Sri Lanka's Export Development Board will host the country's largest-ever B2B pavilion (510 sq m, 61 companies) at Gulfood 2026 in Dubai to showcase coconut products, processed foods, spices, tea and other F&B items. The EDB aims to increase MEASA food exports by US$20–30m by 2027.

Nestlé Lanka won seven awards at the Best Corporate Citizen Sustainability Awards 2025, including the Triple Bottom Line Award for Social Sustainability and multiple environmental and employee relations awards. The company highlighted its sustainability initiatives, local manufacturing and support for farmers and employees.

South Africa’s SPAR Group is negotiating the sale of its UK Appleby Westward unit as it narrows focus to core markets. It reported diluted headline EPS fell 9% to 795.4 cents for the 52 weeks ended Sept 2025, while group revenue rose 1.6% to 132.4 billion rand.

Lulu Group chairman Yusuff Ali donated Rs. 32 million to Sri Lanka's national relief and recovery fund for Cyclone Ditwah; UAE missions are also sending containers and air cargo. The cyclone has killed 635 people, 192 are missing and about 1.76 million people have been affected, with thousands of homes damaged or destroyed.

Cyclone Ditwah fully destroyed 108,000 ha of rice paddies and thousands of hectares of other crops across Sri Lanka; the government will compensate Rs150,000/ha for rice, maize and other field crops and Rs200,000/ha for vegetables.

The EDB now expects 2025 export earnings of $17–17.5bn, short of the $18.2bn target, and is aiming for $20bn in 2026 while launching a National Export Development Plan targeting $36bn by 2030. The plan (to be presented Jan 2026) prioritises diversification into ICT/BPM, logistics, electronics, food & beverages and spices, plus tariff reform, a National Single Window and FTA reviews.

Hemas Consumer Brands was named Runner-up in the FMCG and Retail category at The Great HR Awards 2025, organized by the Chartered Institute of Personnel Management in partnership with Mercer.

LOLC Finance PLC's Factoring Business offers upfront cash financing of up to 85% of credit sales and operates through a network of over 200 branches. The unit provides non-collateral, receivable-management solutions (including a Shariah-compliant option) and supports sectors such as supermarkets, pharmaceuticals and plantations.